Degree Programs

In today’s global knowledge economy, information has become the primary resource and multimedia communication skills have become essential, sought after competencies. Organizations, agencies, and businesses alike require expertise in multimedia as a strategic imperative. Today’s institutions require a professional with multimedia skills and competencies.

The Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies is a program that prepares experts in:

Students must also complete eight units of Physical Education (PE) courses and six units of National Service Training Program (NSTP) courses.

Mode of Instruction

Courses shall be delivered through blended learning, a mixed mode of distance education and on-campus residential learning, for hands-on production courses with built-in laboratory or practicum sessions. Multimedia, as a subject matter, lends itself very well to distance delivery. On the other hand, socialization among BAMS students will be enriched with on-campus residential courses during summers supplementing their interaction as online virtual communities.

Admission Requirements

High school graduates who pass the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) or the Undergraduate Assessment Test (UgAT) and the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Test;

AA graduates of UPOU;

Practitioners in media and related fields with five-year work experience who pass the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Test;

Transferees from other UP constituent units with a GWA of 2.5 who pass the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Test;

Transferees from any recognized institution who have completed two years of study, or 60 units, with a GWA of 2.0 or higher who pass the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Test subject to UP system rules and policies on lateral entrants.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (8 units)

PE courses can also be taken in UPOU and/or another UP campus or a non-UP school through cross-registration, subject to UPOU approval. Students may also opt to take the Proficiency Exam for Physical Education (PEPE) in another UP campus to gain advanced credits in PE.

NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (6 Units)

CWTS 1

Civil Welfare Training Service 1 (3 Units)

CWTS 2

Civil Welfare Training Service 2 (3 Units)

BAMS students must complete six units of courses offered in the National Service Trainign Program (NSTP). The courses offered in the NSTP are clustered in the following components. Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service. (RA9163)

NSTP may also be takne in any school/institution accessible to the student through cross-registration, subject to UPOU approval.

Regular Course Offering Schedule

As of 2015, the program will follow a regular schedule for the availability of the major courses across each academic year which should be able to accommodate the progression of most students. While still subject to change with or without prior notice, FICS is committed to be consistent to this schedule.

Enrollment Tips

While they have unit loads indicated, PE and CWTS do not actually count to your unit load, so you will be able to enroll to either or both of them on top of a 12 unit load.

Overloading is heavily restricted and is generally considered only if a student only has 15 units left before graduating and will be able to enroll in all of them within a trimester, or if a student is in danger of breaking the maximum residency rule (which is eight years for BAMS). And even then, a student must be in very good academic standing (no failing grades, DRPs, unresolved 4.0s or EXTs).

WORKING Students

Take no more than six (6) units

Working students are technically still allowed to take on a full twelve-unit load. However, that is, in most cases, a bad idea for working students.

Only working students in very good academic standing (no failing grades, DRPs, unresolved 4.0s or EXTs) will be allowed to take more than 9 units

Students With Pending Requests for Transfer of Credits

You don’t have to wait for the result of your request to enroll

You may opt not to enroll the courses that you requested for transfer of credits while waiting for the results of your request

The program chair is not involved in processing requests for transfer of credits. Any related inquiries must be forwarded to the FICS Secretary.

On General Education Courses

GE and elective courses are under the AA Program. Please take note of this come enrollment period.

Students Who Need GE Courses not Offered by UPOU

You may request to cross-enroll in other UP constituent units

There is a form for this. Please contact your Learning Center coordinator or check the UPOU website to acquire the form.

If you cross-enroll, you will have to attend regular, face-to-face classes depending on the schedule of the course

If you are cross-enrolling in UP Diliman, you have to undergo a physical exam and get clearance from the health service

Only students who are currently enrolled at UPOU will be allowed to cross-enroll

Take note that if an overlap between the semester of the other campus and two of UPOU’s trimesters occur, keep in mind that the load from the other campus will still count to the latter trimester of UPOU, which can prevent you from enrolling as many courses as you may want.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites typically hold and are to be respected by everyone.

If a prerequisite is deemed unnecessary, it will already be pre-waived prior to the enrollment period.

Recalcitrant requesting to waive prerequisites are best not sent at all. But if there is no other choice, they can be sent to the faculty-in-charge of the pertinent courses. They will have the final say and can supersede prior word from the program chair.

New Students

Full-time students have a number of courses to choose from. Please refer to the sample plan of study for reference. Your actual plan will slightly differ, since you are entering at an irregular period (second trimester). Typically, I would advise new students to take MMS 100, three GE courses plus PE and/or CWTS. MMS 100 is also another good course to enroll in immediately.

Part-time students have the same set of recommended courses to choose from. But do limit yourself to six units. I would recommend MMS 100 and one GE course.

Avoid taking higher BAMS courses.

Continuing Students

This is where a well-composed plan of study comes into play. Most, if not all of what you see in the list of course offerings this second trimester will most likely be offered again next year in the same trimester.

Taking and passing MMS 140 or 141 at the soonest possible time will give you leeway for succeeding courses in the 140-series in the following trimesters.

If you don’t like the current topic for MMS 198, don’t worry. A different topic will be made available next time.

Additional Information

Official information on registration and the BAMS curriculum can be found in the OUR website.

While superseded by whatever is indicated through official channels, your peers, as well as other articles may also be helpful sources of information for you.

All UPOU BAMS courses are delivered online. However, it is possible for face to face sessions to be scheduled as needed. But if ever, attendance is typically not required.

6)How will I take PE and CWTS?

You can take the PE and CWTS online.

7)Will previously-taken Military Science or other NSTP courses be credited?

Previously taken MS and NSTP courses will be automatically credited for CWTS if application of transfer of credit is made.

8)Is there PE exemption?

Yes, the following can be exempted:

Students who hold an Associate in Arts title or a Bachelor’s degree;

Students 30 years old or older upon first enrollment in UPOU program;

Veterans of the armed forces, navy or air force; and

Students who have served on a full-time basis for at least two (2) years in the armed forces, navy or air force.

9)What is the normal unit load?

The regular load for full-time BAMS students is twelve academic units per trimester. Part-time students are typically advised to take no more than six units per trimester.

10)Can I enroll even if I am already a graduate of Bachelor’s Degree?

Yes.

11)I’ve been a practitioner for years, do I get credited for that?

No. UPOU only credits academic units earned from a university.

12)Are students required to write a thesis?

Not exactly. MMS 200 requires students to undertake a special project. However, that project can easily involve thesis-level research.

13)What equipment would I need as a BAMS student?

A computer with a basic set of applications and an Internet connection will always be necessary. Certain courses will require additional equipment such as cameras and microphones. We have also seen in recent years how mobile phones have become an indispensable tool, as well.

14)I was enrolled in previous universities, how many units should I have in order for me to transfer to BAMS?

You need to earn thirty- three (33) academic units with a UP-equivalent GWA of 2.o or higher.

15)How much time will I be given to finish the program?

Under the Maximum Residency Rule (MRR), students should take no more than eight years to finish. This rule is followed in order to comply with international standards for four-year open and distance learning programs taking into account lateral entrants, transferees and working students.

16)Will units earned from another school be credited?

It is possible to apply for a transfer of credits. A maximum of 50% of the total number of academic units in an undergraduate program may be applied for transfer of credits. Units earned from another UP campus can be credited automatically. Units earned from another school or university will be subject to evaluation and may require an applicant to take validation exams.

17) Do the students have to take examinations?

It depends on the course, or sometimes the faculty-in-charge himself/herself. While taking exams online have become more accepted in recent years, there are still some cases where students do have to take written exams, which can take place in the following:

at a UPOU Learning Center or Testing Center.

at a Philippine embassy/consulate or any academic institution/credible organization abroad under the supervision of a qualified proctor in the area.

Online, but proctored via web camera.

18)What lines of work would I be qualified for after graduation?

BAMS graduates can assume the following plantilla positions in corporations, government agencies and non-government organizations:

Multimedia specialist

Information specialist

Information manager

Communication specialist

Communication manager

Knowledge specialist

Knowledge manager

19)Is there CWTS/NSTP exemption?

Yes, the following can be exempted:

Students who are currently elected officers of the local government unit; or

Active volunteer members of an NGO that performs activities promoting social and civic welfare

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